Currently on a season's long loan, Conor Sammon has impressed in the first few games he has played. He was involved in both goals against Chesterfield last weekend, and found himself on the score-sheet twice last night, with Jose Baxter completing the rout on a well-earned performance. At the other end, Souleymane Coulibaly had levelled for the hosts.
Unlike his predecessor, Nigel Adkins opted to field an identical side which had beaten the Spirites - even the substitutes remained unchanged. In the opening 25 minutes, the game was quite eventful, apart from seeing the Blades take the lead, they were hampered by injuries which saw them make two forced substitutions.
In the early exchanges both Freeman and Sammon saw attempted crosses into the box cut-out, whilst Bostwick fired wide of the mark for the hosts. Moments before the visitors took the lead, the home side withdrew Nithe to injury. A well-played ball down the right hand side saw Sharp tee up SAMMON, whose shot was too good for keeper Alnwick.
After the goal United were unfortunate to lose two to casualties also, both Scougall and Collins were replaced by Campbell-Ryce and Kieran Wallace, and thus forcing McEverley to take a more central role in defence. Both sides were presented with opportunities to score via headers, Santos for the hosts and McEverley.
It was the home side who ended the first half the brightest, but this didn't prevent United from carving out further chances of their own. Sammon saw his shot blocked and Edgar headed wide Campbell-Ryce's free-kick. Six minutes of injury was added on in the first, unusual to say the least, but three substitutions had been made as a result.
After the break the Posh continued in fine form, Anderson fired wide after beating Wallace and Basham, whilst Collinson was too late to volley Massison's cross, but Howard parried away. Having introduced COULIBALY, he made almost an instant impact, cutting in from the left, he rounded Freeman before shooting beyond Howard at the far post to level.
Hungry for three points the Blades hit back with triple efforts from Sharp, his first came from a Wallace throw into the box, the second Campbell-Ryce's pass and lastly from Basham, but all failed to hit the target as the game moved to the 70 minute mark.
Sharp may have been having a frustrating night, but Sammon wasn't, and soon grabbed a second vital goal, as Adams turned down a opportunity to shoot, and instead found SAMMON, who fired home, a very mature decision from such a young forward.
Adkins made his first, and only, tactical substitution of the night shortly afterwards, with James Wallace replacing Sharp. United's goal opened up Peterborough's defence, but they were handed chances in front of goal. Coulibaly headed straight at Howrard at the far post, Santos cleared the stand with his shot, and Bostwick smashed wide.
With five minutes remaining any hopes of salvaging a point were dashed, when, on 85th minute the Blades grabbed their third of the night. James Wallace's 50 yard run saw his find BAXTER, who fired high into the top corner; 3-1.
Coulibaly fired over in the closing stages as the game drew to a close, and the visitors returned to S2 with maximum points.
Peterborough United: Alnwick, Nithe (Brisley 14), Zakuani, Bostwick, Maddison, Santos, Washington, Davey (Payne 73), Gormley (Coulibaly 54), H Anderson, Collison. Unused: Henry, Taylor, Vassell, J Anderson.
Sheffield United: Howard, Freeman, Basham, Sharp (J Wallace 75), Baxter, Collins (K Wallace 25), Scougall (Campbell-Ryce 19), Sammon, McEveley, Adams, Edgar. Unused: McNulty, Woolford, Reed, Long.